Electrical fixture-supporting device



May 1 5, I l Q28.

R. B. BENJAMIN ELECTRICAL FIXTURE SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed July 1921Patented May 15, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'REUBEIT B. BENJAMIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BENJAJMINELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFILLINOIS.

ELECTRICAL. rrxronn-surronrine DEVICE.

Application filed July 1,

supporting devices and connections therefor.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved fixturesupporting de-' vice in which the fixture can be readily connected anddisconnected with respect to the receptacle both electrically andmechanically.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved fixturesupporting device in which thief-proof means are provided for preventingthe removal of the fixture by an unauthorized. person.

A. further object of my invention is to provide such a device which willbe simple in c r truction, cheap to manui ac'ture and durub lo andeiiicient in use.

Further objects will appear from the detailed description to follow andfrom the appended claims. I

In the drawings in which an embodiment oi: my invention is shown i Fig.1 is a vertical axial section showing a receptacle, a tixt re and aconnecting bracket and plug;

Fig. 2 is a ttrontview showing tacle and taco-plate; i

Fig. 3 is an elevational view showing-the bracket and plug-in device;

liig. 1 is a front view of the bracket;

llig'. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. (3 is a bottom plan view of the con struction shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7 is a view showing a different form of releasing mechanism.

The construction shown in the drawings the recepcomprises a fixture 11,a receptacle 12, a

plug-in device 13, for electrically connecting the fixture with thereceptacle, and a me chanical connecting member orbracket 1 1 formechanically connecting the fixture with respect to the receptacle.

The plug-in device 13' is carried by the connecting bracket 1 1, beingbodily 'slidably mounted thereon to permit the necessary movement of theconnecting bracket 14: to make the mechanical connection withoutinterfering with the insertion of the contact blades 15 of the plug-indevice 13 in the openings 16 provided in the receptacle 12.

The mechanical connector member or bracket 11 is secured to thesupporting plate 1? which may be a sort of cover for the outlet box (bymeans of a pair ofhook mem bers 18 at the upper end of the bracket, anda T-shaped headed member 19 at the lower 1921. Serial No. 481,734:.

end of the bracket. The supporting plate 17 .15 provided with a pair ofslots 20 to receive the hook members 18, and with a notch 21 adjacentthe lower end of the receptacle to receive the headed member 19. Theconnection of the bracket 14 with the supporting plate 17 is effected-bytwo movements, first. a movement 01 insertion to bringthe hook members18 and headed member 19 back'of the plate 17, and second, a downwardmove ment to engage the hook members 18 and headed member 19' with thesupporting plate 17, The sliding movementbetWeenthe plug in device 13andthe connecting bracket 14:, hereinbetore referred to, permits thedownward movement oi 'the connecting bracket without interference fromthe engagement olt the blades 15 in the openings 16. The slidingconnection of the pl-ug-indevice 13 withthe connecting bracket 14: iseffected by the material of the bracket 141, the plug being held betweenthe body portion 01 the bracket and these lugs. Thebraeket 14 may be asheet metal stamping, the hook members 18, the headed member 19, and thelugs 22 being formed as integral parts of this stamping. .In ordertopositively hold the bracket 14 in connected position on the plate 17 aspring latch member is provided having an inwardly'bent portion 25whichv snaps in underneath the insulating base 25 of the plugin device18 when the bracket 14: is moved down to the connected position withrespect to the plate 17. W i

hen this spring latch 23 snaps into vents it from being disconnected.

In order to release the positive spring means 01" a pair of lugs 22struck up from iatching position it positively prevents the bracket 14from being'raised, and thus we latch 23, a bell-crank lever 26isprovided, 1

pivoted at 27 to the bracket 1 1, onearm of which bell-crank engages theend 28 of the spring latch 23, and the other arm of which may beconnected to a pull member 29.

In order to prevent the release of the spring latch 23 by anunauthorized person and thus prevent the theft of the fixture, theconstruction may be suchthat a key is neces sary to eitect theoperation. of the pull member 29. For this purpose, a threadedconnecting member 29 is secured to the end of the pull member 29, thispull member 29 being slid-ably mounted ina tubular member 29*, securedto the canopy 30. The member 1 In order to limit the movement of the 29is provided with a shank" portion 31 having a left-hand thread, forengagement with the left-hand threaded socket portion 31 of the keymember 31",.

In order to release thelatch, the key 31 y is inserted into the tubularmember 29 and screwed onto the screw threaded shank 30, the key is thenpulled down, pulling down V with it the pullmeinberQQQand rocking thebell-cranklever26to push the spring latch outwardly, to release thebracket 14 for up ward movement. The fixture and bracket can then belifted upwardly and pulled out-- 1 wardly, and thus disengage from thesupporting plate 17.

, bell'craiik 26, the stop lug 36 may be provided, struck up, from thematerial of the i 7 a bracket 1-l.f

. The canopy whichsupports the fixture all may be secured to thelbracket14 by means of a transversely extending strap 37 havingv its tendssecured to the canopy 30,

and its intermediate portion secured to the bracket 14, by means of ascrew 38. The bracket 14 may be provided with an upwardly extending post39, which is used in makingthe connection with certain forms offixtures, so"

A suitable ornamental finishing plate. or

escutcheon 40 may be providedin .front of the supporting plate 17. i a

In Fig. 7 is shown a construction in which the bell-crank-lever 26 whichoperates the spring latch 23 is itself operated by means of a pull chain41, the upper end of which is connected to the bell-crank, and whichex.- tends downwardly through an opening 42 in the canopyv 30. i v iHaving thus describedmy invention what I claim asnew and desire tosecure by Leti ters Patent of the United States v is gas her, aconnecting bracket, and a plug-in dervice having contacts for engagementwith the receptacle contacts, mountedfor'b'odily slidingmovernent onsaid bracket, said bracket and supporting member being provided .withinterengaging means whereby said bracket may be, connected to saidplate,

by movement towards said receptacle, and

laterally with respect thereto,tmeans for 'ventingmeans."

holding thebracket in connected position, i

comprising means for preventing relative sliding movement between saidbracket and plugntdevice, a canopyr'or housing said bracket, andmeansoperable from the out side of said can'opy for controlling sa1dprei2.Thei.combination with a fixture and a receptacle, ofmeans forelectrically connecting the fixture with respect to the receptacle, andmechanically connecting and supporting the fixture with respect to thereceptacle, said means comprising a supporting member, a connectingbracket, and a plug indevice having contacts for engagement with thereceptacle contacts, mounted for bodily sliding movement on saidbracket,

said bracket and supporting member being provided with inter-engagingmeans wherea by said bracket may be connected to said supporting memberby movement towards said receptacle, and laterally with respect thereto,means for holding the bracket in connected position, comprising meansfor preventing relative sliding movement between said bracket andplug-1ndevice, a canopy for housing said bracket, and means operable from theoutside of said canopy for controlling said preventing means, said,

last means having provisions whereby it maybe operated from differentangles.

3. The combination with a fixture aiida receptacle, of means forelectrically connecting the fixture with respectto' the receptacle, andmechanically connecting andsiip-w porting the fixture with respect tothe receptacle, said means comprising a supporting member, a connectingbracket, and a plug-in device-having contactsl'or engagement with thereceptacle contacts, mounted for bodily sliding movement on, saidbracket, said bracket and supporting member being provided withintei'engaging means whereby said bracket may becoi iiectedto said supporting member by movement towards said receptacle, and laterally withrespect there to, means for holding the bracket'in connected position,comprising means for preventing relative sliding movement between said,

bracket and plug-in device, a canopy for housing said bracket, and meansoperable 1 from theoutsideot said canopy for controllingsaid preventingmeans,said last means comprislng a bell-crank.

In witness whereof, I liave hereunto sub i scribed my name. i y i a yREUBEN B. BENJAMIN.

